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Biology Paper 1 · B4 · Lesson 4.7

How the body responds to exercise

Connect breathing, blood flow and muscle energy demand.

Key ideas1 of 3

Working muscles need more energy

During exercise, muscle cells contract more often and need a greater rate of energy transfer. Heart rate, breathing rate and breath volume increase to supply more oxygen to working muscles.

Illustrative resting measurements: breathing rate 14 breaths per minute and heart rate 70 beats per minute. Individual values vary.

Breath volume means the amount of air moved in each breath.

Next: Metabolism: building and breaking down →
Topic resources and sources

Daily 5 · Core exam practice · Higher Tier questions · A4 revision sheet

Lessons 4.1–4.8 cover the core. Lessons 4.9–4.10 are Higher Tier only. Daily 5 practises core facts.

AQA Combined Science Trilogy specification · 4.4.2.2. Original notes, questions and diagrams. Experimental numbers are illustrative.

Photographs: pondweed by Frank Vincentz; dough by ElinorD, both CC BY-SA 3.0. Polytunnel by Bob Nichols / USDA, public domain. Images displayed without cropping or other alterations.